Under Armour Phantom Fore Review: Maybe the most comfortable golf shoe you can buy right now

Key Features:

• Huge stack of HOVR+ foam delivers insane comfort
• Combination of waterproof knit and synthetic upper provides weather-resistant lockdown
• Spikeless rubber outsole for grip

Under Armour remain in a funny sort of space in the game of golf. They have one of this generation's most iconic golfers on their roster in Jordan Spieth, a footprint across the wider realm of sport that other brands can only dream of, and a track record making some of our favourite golf shoes and apparel to release in the last couple of years.

Despite this, however, the American brand has never quite cracked the mainstream golf market in the same way its rivals like Nike and Adidas have. It's rare to see the brand on TV unless Spieth is in contention, and while its apparel is popular with those who just want simple, comfortable and well-engineered apparel at a reasonable price, it's also fair to say that the brand could do with upping the excitement factor a bit.

Which is why the brand's latest golf shoe, the Phantom Fore, could be an important one for the brand. Sleek, good-looking and possessed of a thoroughly modern, runner-like aesthetic, it makes a huge leap from last year's comfortable-but-flawed Phantom golf shoe, and might just make Under Armour golf shoes cool again. 

As GolfMagic Equipment Editor Tom Usher found out on-course aas well, it ticks a huge number of boxes that make it a worthy addition into the conversation around the most comfortable spikeless golf shoes on the market right now—making it a truly exciting package for those who want to feel the benefits of the brand's latest tech without sacrificing too much in the way of off-course looks.

Read on to see his full thoughts.

Watch our full 2025 golf shoe test below:

Technology and features

While the Drive Pro was built from the ground up to cater to every need the brand's tour pros and elite amateurs might have, the Phantom Fore is positioned more towards the everyman who wants a balance of performance, comfort and looks that style as well with a hoodie and a pair of trackpants as they do a more formal get up.

The most obvious feature that strikes the eye is the huge slab of HOVR+ foam that sits underneath the foot, derived from the brand's Phantom running shoes and tweaked slightly to deliver a combination of stability and plush, all-day comfort.

Adding to the runner-derived look is an upper that fuses a NeverWet treated knitted material with a water-resistant synthetic material, aiming to provide a lightweight, locked-in feel. An added TPU heel counter offers extra lockdown and stability around the base of the ankle, also ensuring slips on and off with ease.

Only available in a spikeless form, the Phantom Fore comes equipped with Under Armour's own wear-resistant rubber outsole, engineered with moulded rubber cleats that grip the turf without taking away too much from the shoe's sporty silhouette.

Looks and feel

The Phantom Fore looks every bit the running shoe it shares its DNA with. Quite simply, it looks as if it'd be as suited to running a 10k as it is playing 18 holes of golf. And given we were big fans of the Drive Pro's performance but not necessarily its looks, it's great to see Under Armour offer an option that has more of an aesthetic appeal for everyday golfers. It's also a significantly better-looking shoe than last year's Phantom model.

While the shoe comes in an array of different colours, the all-white colourway we tested, combined with the gum outsole, pairs perfectly with the shoe's profile— although we imagine you might have a time keeping it clean. The upper, made with a combination a water-resistant knit and a synthetic toebox, feels malleable and hugs your foot nicely, providing a locked-in feel without coming across as overly restrictive.

Where the Phantom Fore really shines, however, is the feel under foot. The HOVR+ does its job in spades, delivering ample cushioning with a springy, runner-like feel. And while this would often come at the cost of lateral stability, Under Armour have done a great job engineering the platform to spread your weight out evenly across the ground, ensuring never feel out of control when standing on top of such a reactive base.

Performance

We've established, then, that the Under Armour Phantom Fore is one of the out-and-out comfiest golf shoes money can buy. How does this translate, however, in a variety of golf scenarios.

All-in-all, we'd say pretty well—although we do have a couple of concerns that may sway more discerning golfers towards a more traditionally-engineered shoe like the Drive Pro. The midsole is incredibly comfortable, and the spikeless outsole delivers just enough traction in dry conditions to aid you, without providing the super locked-in feel that more aggressive cleats tend to deliver.

But while the Phantom Fore's tech does its job admirably in delivering comfort on both the course and in the clubhouse, the price you pay comes in feedback. 

The midsole really lifts you off the ground, which is great for providing a springy, responsive sensation under foot, but we also found came to its detriment around the greens. Getting the proper feedback necessary to read chips and putts in the Phantom Fore is hard, while the big, plush platform also made it somewhat difficult to feel settled and comfortable when setting up for a putt.

Should you buy the Under Armour Phantom Fore?

We love what the Under Armour Phantom Fore offers as an option for the everyday golfer—although it's also obvious to us why none of the brand's roster of tour pros have ever worn the model out in tournament conditions.

Even so, we feel the vast majority of golfers, who ultimately just want something comfortable, relatively grippy and sleek enough to wear to and from the course without being embarrassed, will be served extremely well by the Phantom Fore. At £110, we also feel they're very well priced given the amount of tech and cushioning on display in this model.

Golf shoes that look like this really don't come much more comfortable, and if that's your number one concern, should definitely give them a look.